Spring wheel for automobiles and other vehicles



May 10, 1927.

H. HILL Filed July 16. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. HILL May 10, 1927.

SPRING WHEEL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER VEHICLES Filed July 16, 1924 3 sheets -sheet 2 W H. HILL SPRING WHEEL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER VEHICLES Filed July 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES i szssei rarest OFFICE.

HERBERT HILL, OF DURBAN, NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

SPRING XVHEEL FOR AUTOMOBIIiEE AND UTE'IER VEHICLES.

Application filed July 16, 1924, Serial No. 726,395, and in Great Britain April 17, 1924.

This invention relates to spring wheels for automobiles and other vehicles and has for its object to provide improvements therein.

The invention consists broadly in a spring wheel having an inner rim element, an outer rim element, a central element, side plates connected to the central element and extending towards the inner rim element, telescopic radial elements connecting the hub with the outer rim element, said telescopic radial elements being pivotally connected with the side plates about axes located at equal distances apart on a circle whose centre is the axis of the wheel, resilient devices located between the outer and inner rim elements and fixed non-extensible radial members connecting the inner rim element and the central element of the wheel.

In a preferred construction of wheel in accordance with the invention, the wheel comprises disc elements spaced apart and secured to a central elementadapted to encircle the vehicle axle, radial members rigidly secured to the said central. element and. located between the disc elements, an inner rim element secured to the ends of the said radial elements connecting together the outer ends thereof, telescopic radial elements, each comprising a portion forming a lever and pivotally connected to the disc elements and a further portion slidable within the firstmentioned portion pivotally connected with the outer rim, and springs located between the inner and outer rim elements adapted to oppose the action of the load upon the wheels to displace the axes of the rim elements.

Between the fixed radial elements and the radial elements which are pivotally mounted spring elements, may be arranged and if the one portion of each of the pivotally mounted radial elements is formed as a lever of the first order, such springs may be located adjacent to either end of the lever while in the other case, that is to say where the one portion of the element is pivoted adjacent to its inner end in the side disc, springs will be located adjacent to the outer end of the lever only.

Optionally, within a chamber formed in one portion of each of the telescopic radial elements metal springs or other resilient means may be located adapted to constrain the inner elements to move outward from the axis of the wheel.

'lho invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example two convenient constructions Figure 1 being an external elevation of one construction;

Figure 2 a sectional elevation thereof;

Figure 3 a section on the lines III IlI of Figure 2; v

F igure 4 a section through one of the radial members of a second construction;

Figure 5 is an outside elevation of a third construction liigure 6 being a fragmentary view in sectional elevation of the construction illustra ted in Figure 5, and

Figure 7 a fragmentary view illustrating a detail which may be incorporated in a device in accordance with the invention, while F igure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the inner ring element.

in all the constructions, the side plates, which are indicated by the reference 1 in Figure 1 and by the reference 1 in Figure 5, are connected together by bolts 2, 2", 2""; 3 is a central element or shell adapted to encircle the nave of the wheel; 4 the outer rim or tyre on which at intervals bosses 5 are formed by means of which members 6 of the telescopic radial elements are pivotally connected by pivots 7 to the rim, 8 bein; the portions of these telescopic elements within which the aforesaid members are arranged to slide. These portions of the telescopic elements are provided with pivots 9 engaging in holes formed in the side plates.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the pivots are located about half-way between the central shell and rim of the wheel, while in the construction illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 they are located adjacent. to the central portion of the wheel. In the one case. therefore, these elements act as levers of the first order. To the central element adapted to encircle the vehicle axle or a hub mounted thereon, radial elements or spokes 10 are rigidly connected at their inner ends by being engaged in recesses and between the shoulders 1O on the central element. their outer ends being rigidly connected by welding to a ring 11 in which apertures 12 are provided adapted to permit of the telescopic radial members moving: about their pivotal connections with the side plates.

Between the tyre or outer rim of the wheel TKO and the same springs 13 are located. such springs encircling the outer ends ot the telescopic radial members. Other springs let. indicated in Figure 2, may also be interposed between the ring above rei'erred to and the outer rim or tyre ot the Wheel. Between the fixed radia elements and the telescopic pivotally mounted elen'ients springs l5 are arranged aiiljacent to the outer ends ot the former while in the construction illustrated in Figures 1, to lsprings l5- are also located between the inner ends of the fixed radial elements and the adjacent ends of the telescopic and pivotally mounted radial elements.

A spring 16. as shown in Figure 2. may also be located within the chamber 17 in each of the radial members adapted to assist in taking up the load on the Wheel.

Conveniently. the outer rim is provided with flanges or annular plates adapted to tit close against the side plates and thus exclude dust from the mechanism.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 4 the annular plates are indicated by the reference 18 and the rim in this case is in the form of a channel member provided with a central \veb l9 and flanges 2 to which the outer extremities of the radial members are pivotally connected. \Vith this construction cross Webs may be provided at intervals conneeting the central web and the flange and a band tyre 21 may be appliec. to the inn in this as also in the other constructions described.

In Figure 7 the end of the adial member is provided with projections 22 adapted to contact with rubber pads or cushions 23 in the event ot excessive movement of the radial member about its pivot.

W'hile in the above the provision ot bosses on. the inner surface of the outer rim or tyre is described for the purpose ot securing con nection between the outer ends of the telescopic radial members and the same reces es may, as an alternative, be provided in said member Within which the ends of the telescopic members may be pivoted.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A spring Wheel having; an inner rim element, an outer rim element. a central element, side plates connected to the central element and extending towards the inner rim element, telescopic radial elements connecting t .e hub with the outer rim element said telescopic radial e eme lv connected with th de located at equal dis: Whose centre is the axis or ient devices located lictvucci inner rim elemen s an tis. radial members connect i A spring u'lircl element. an outer rim e? ment. si plates connected o the cc element and extending ton t the inner riin element. tel son c radial elr i s connect- 70 emont said pivotally i about axes on a'circle 10 Wheel. re-

he oute and If. d c e incnts spaced apart ZUlil S ClliGtl to a centra a, hub on vcmembers element element adapted to en hicle axle. non-extensible radial rigidly secured to the. said cor and located between the disc inner rim element secureijl to the e said radial eleme us connecting: outer ends thercot' telescopic rat each comprising a porticai form and pivotally connect and a further portion sli lahle Within the first-mentioned portion with the outer rim. and tween the inner and adapted to oppose the actitn upon the Wheels to displace rim elements.

A spring Wheel a which one portion o i' ca mounted. radial elemen i of the first class and spriu jacent to either end of? th: the same and the fixed re-rlhil e In testimony whereof I have name to this specification.

' HERBERT liiilll lllO v llO 

